The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1887-10-01
q PRISON sHOE-sHoP.
How the Convict, work In tho Virginia
state peu4tentlary.


state Pen4tentiary.
One visit made BY members of Post
five Of Lynn while al Richmond was Of
unusual interest. and slight descrip-
tion Of it will no doubt be interesting.
The visit referred 20 was that enjoyed
by very few 10 the Richmond peni-
tentiary This old-time prison is one
Of the oldest buildings Of It's kind in
the United States. II was built in 1897
and now contains eight hundred and
( eighteen prisoners, fOur-lifths Of whom
are black. Al are clothed in prison
uniform. The Youngest prisoner with
in the walls is cOlOrcd boy, thirteen
years old. who il serving life sentence
for the murder Of his brother By shoot
ing.
As many Of our citizens know, the
industry OF the prniteutiary j, shoe
making; the work i, controlled by aud
is for "a shoe company Of Lynn. Mass,
/ and a great amount Of work i, exc
cuted, forty 10 fifty cases of shoes be-
ing turned ont per day. The large
prison j. really a mammoth shoe shop.
as no Other WORK j, carried on there.
| Every branch OF the work is kept by
itself, and each room and the prisoners
therein are in charge of foreman and
overseer. The foreman pays hi- whole
attention To- directing the work, while
the overseer's duty 10 preserve order.
enforce the rule, of the institution.
only as far a. his room goes, however.
and only COR such length of time "a, his
men are in his room doing their work.
Every prisoner when he ha. learned
one branch of shocmaking, is required
to do "A stint. Some learn quickly, and
soon become fine workmcn, performing
their duty in quick time, and then take
half a days rest. Others, in the
same line of work, require all
day to do the certain number
of pairs expected Of them 4 certain
length of time is given BEGINNERS in
which To work before the stint j. given.
In case the novice shows a disposition
TO do his best, and still does not per-
form the required amount OF work per
day, because of his lack of experience
and practice, he receives warning,
aud an additional suggestion, perhaps,
and finally becomes able to perform
the amount of work assigned him. On
the other hand, if man will not learn.
or refuses To do the number of pairs re-
quired, he is taken by the oycrsecr to
place of retirement. held over "A barrel
by two convicts and given n certain
number of lashcs on the back. After
this there is little or no trouble.
The whipping is done with a single
leather lash. Punishment ranges from
five to thirty-nine lashcs, the latter
number being bat seldom administered,
and only in cases of very serious misdc-
meanor. An occasional spelling of II
shoe while IN course of manufacture
calls for Il rcprmaud from the over
seer, but when the accidents occur of
ten and are caused by carclcs,ucss. or
perhaps done on purpose, the barrel act
is next on the programme.
In the lasting department there are
many expert workmcn, and some II
the lasters are not likely to become un-
accustomed to the work as they are in
for life. An ordinary prisoner, when
learning to last, usually requires seven
weeks practice before he can do good
work reasonably fast. Some have
learned in five weeks, but such cases are
rare. Those who are expert in what
ever department they are employed
are permitted to DO extra work, and
receive pay in cash The prisoner, are
! allowed five ounces of tobacco per
week. and when not at work they are
allowed to smoke their pipes in the cor
ridors facing their cells, where they
promenade or bask in the sun in front
of their cell door This is the universal
custom when the prisoner has finished
his stint and takes his lay-olf rest and
recreation.
The prisoners do more or less trad
ing among themselves, money, tobacco,
sugar and similar articles being the
stock i'm trade The male inmates also
90 in for little amusement among
themselves. One speciality, which al
fOrds amusement and a trade COM
bincd, j. the administering of laShcs,
one prisoner with another, in exchange
for half cup of sugar, a piece of to-
bacco or n trinkct One receives the
whipping and the sugar. while the 9TH
crs apply the rod and enjoy -he fun.
Our party was informed that some Of
the negroes thought nothing of the
lash, and would take "thirty-nne'
without a finch. Such ones are not
plenty.
OF the white men and women among
the prisoners. but few are able 10 read
or write. The greater portion of all
who occupy cells in the prison were
committed for thieving This is par
ticularly the case with the women pris-
oners. who are in wing of the peni-
tcntiary 10y themselves. The women
do stitching, although a good part Of
the sewing machines are in another
part of the prison and are operated by
men. Lynn Mass. Item.
Expulsion Of a joker.
A witty clown, hV name DurOw. has